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THE  KING'S  PALACE 


"Written  by 

ANNA   LOUISE  STRONG 

Author  of 
"  The  Song  of  the  City,"  etc. 

Illustrated  by 

MARGARET   JOSENHANS 


Copyright  1908  by 
Oak  Leaves  Company 


Oak  Leaves  Company 
Oak  Park,  Illinois 


A 

Dedicated 
To  My  Grandmother 


2046781 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


CHARACTERS 

HENRY  RAYMOND 
MRS.  RAYMOND 
ELISE  RAYMOND 
PHILIP  DARRELL, 


a  young  man  of  twenty-three 

MR.   GARDINER, 
a  man  of  somewhat  over  thirty 


V 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


-T*~i 
-^.- '  i-  - '  \ 

SCENE    ONE 


w  ;: 

(Mrs.  Raymond's  sitting-room;  Mrs.  Ray 
mond  is  seated  at  a  table  pouring  coffee;  Mr. 
Gardiner  lounges  near  by,  comfortably  smok 
ing;  Philip  Darrell  is  rising  to  go.  A  sunset 
is  visible  through  the  western  windows.) 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

You  are  going,  are  you?  Elise  will  be  down 
in  a  moment. 


PHILIP  (awkwardly  and  nervously) 

Yes — well — if  you  would  be  so  good.  I  did 
want  to  see  Elise  for  a  moment.  (He  sits 
down  nervously  on  the  edge  of  a  chair.  Mrs. 
Raymond  speaks  with  an  obvious  attempt  to 
put  him  at  his  ease.) 


MRS.  RAYMOND 

Elise  will  be  very  sorry  not  to  have  you  at 
her — little  party. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

GARDINER 

It  must  be  a  pleasure  to  be  missed  by  Miss 
Raymond,  a  pleasure  only  to  be  balanced  by 
the  unhappiness  of  not  attending  her  first 
affair. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

Oh,  Philip  will  come  to  all  the  others.  They 
are  old  friends,  childhood  playmates. 

¥    ///M 

GARDINER 
Ah,  a  favored  friend !    How  fortunate ! 

PHILIP 

I  have  to  go  west — on  business.     Oh — (He 

rises  as  Elise  enters.) 

ELISE 

How  are  you,  Phil?  Good  afternoon,  Mr. 
Gardiner.  (Philip  sinks  back  into  his  seat) 

I 

GARDINER 

We  were  hoping  for  a  glimpse  of  you,  in 
spite  of  the  preparations  for  your  festivities. 

(Elise  smiles  rather  vaguely,  then  she 
catches  sight  of  the  sunset.) 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

4 
ELISE 

Oh!  (She  goes  to  the  window  and  sits 
down  where  she  can  see  the  sunset  without 
too  much  impoliteness  to  the  guests.  Philip 
rises  hesitatingly  and  goes  to  sit  by  her. 
Gardiner  chats  with  Mrs.  Raymond.) 

ELISE 

Look  at  that  gold!  And  that— oh,  that 
wonderful  dark,  dark — is  it  purple  or  almost  a 
green? 

PHILIP  (in  a  matter  of  fact  tone) 
Yes,  it's  a  lovely  sunset. 

ELISE  (disappointedly) 
Oh! 

PHILIP  (miserably) 

Now,  I  have  displeased  you.  I  wish — oh, 
how  do  you  expect  me  to  think  of  sunsets? 

ELISE 

But  see  the  clouds!  Those  high,  shining 
banks  with  the  black  between.  It's  like  a 
gateway  to  a  King's  Palace. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MRS.    RAYMOND    (turning) 
Are  you  two  off  on  that  silly     old     game 
again  ? 

ELISE 
No,  Mother. 

jj      m  *     1        ^^V%*  ^^jf  J 

PHILIP 

What  game?   (Gardiner  begins  to  look  in 
terested.) 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
The  King's  Palace. 

ELISE 

I  merely  said  that  the  sunset  looked  like  a 
gateway,  a  palace  gateway. 

GARDINER    (feeling  his  way) 
And  of  course  every  palace     is     a     king's 
palace? 

ELISE   (surprised  and  pleased) 
Why,  yes. 

GARDINER 

And   every   palace   gateway   is   an   opening 
into — into — 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

ELISE 
Oh,  did  you  ever  play  it? 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
You  funny  child !  Of  course  not. 

GARDINER 

I  have  played  at  many  things. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

(laughingly  to  Gardiner) 
And  always.    Did  you  ever  do  anything  else? 

GARDINER 
Why  should  I?  I  get  all  I  want  without. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
Always  ? 

GARDINER 
Provided  the  others  are  serious. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
Poor  others ! 

GARDINER 
Oh!  no!  Why? 

PHILIP  (to  Elise) 
Elise,  I  want  to  see  you  before  I  go. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

ELISE 

How  serious  you  are.  You'll  see  me  often 
enough.  You  always  have  and  I  suppose  you 
always  will,  from  this  time  forth  and  even  — 

GARDINER  (catching  the  last  words) 
Lucky  young  man!  Forevermore  is  a  long 
time,  and  under  the  circumstances     a     most 
pleasant  one.    And  how  often  am  I  to  see  you, 
Miss  Raymond? 

ELISE  (embarrassed) 
I  don't  know.  I  suppose  it  depends. 

GARDINER 
On  you. 

ELISE 


GARDINER 

Am  I  to  have  a  dance  at  the  great  event? 
Or  were  they  all  promised  years  and  years  ago? 

ELISE 

Of  course  you  may  ;  I  should  be  —  very  much 
honored.  (Then  as  Gardiner  scrutinizes  her 
with  an  amused  smile,  she  proceeds  with  some 


10 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

embarrassment.)     Years  and  years  ago?  How 
funny!  One  doesn't — 

GARDINER 

Knowing  your  mother,  I  do  not  think  your 
first  birthday  would  have  been  too  soon  to 
have  engaged  the  dance. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
(smiling  acknowledgement) 
You  improve  daily. 

GARDINER  (to  Elist 
But  how  about  the  King's  Palace? 

ELISE 
Oh,  that  was  a  game  I  used  to  play. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
A  very  childish  game. 

GARDINER 
With  Philip? 

PHILIP 
Yes. 

ELISE 
Sometimes. 


ii 


I 
fl 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

PHILIP  (with  a  sudden  fierceness) 
Whom  else? 

ELISE 

h,  you  weren't  always  in  it,  Philip.  Some 
times  I  was  quite,  quite  alone. 


GARDINER 
In  the  palace? 

ELISE 

No,  in  playing.  It  was  never  lonely  in  the 
palace. 

GARDINER 

Of  course  not.     Palaces  are  always  all  that 
one  desires. 

ELISE    (with  interest) 
How  do  you  know?    Do  you  own  one,  too? 

GARDINER  (with  a  smile) 
Ah,  that  would  be  telling. 

PHILIP  (pleading) 

But  it  was  best  when  we  played  together, 
wasn't  it? 


12 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


ELISE    (weighing  the   matter) 

In  some  ways.     And  in  some  ways  it  was 

nicer  alone. 

Sf" 

GARDINER 

Didn't  Philip  play  well?  You  should  try  me. 
I  am  very  good  at  playing. 


ELISE 

Oh,  Philip  was  very,  very  obliging. — But  I 
don't  think  he  always  saw  much  sense  in  the 
game. 

MRS.   RAYMOND    (apologetically) 

Philip  was  older  than  you,  my  dear,  and 
much  more  sensible. 

ELISE 

It  began  with  fairy-tales,  I  think.  And  with 
dadda's  music. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

Elise  is  JJQ  imaginative.  She  used  to  make  me 
read  fairy-tales  by  the  hour. 

ELISE 
Poor  mamma.  I  know  you  hated  them. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

(with  a  virtuous  air  of  motherly  sacrifice) 

She  gets  it  from  poor  dear  Henry. 

GARDINER 

Oh,  I  intended  to  ask  you.  How  is  Mr.  Ray 
mond's  new  departure  coming  on?  A  sym 
phony,  wasn't  it? 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

Quite  well,  musically,  that  is.  He  gets  long 
letters  of  compliments,  and  from  really  good 
people.  But  financially — Oh,  imagination  is 
interesting,  but  not  paying.  If  it  weren't  that 
I  have  some  money  of  my  own — (She  sighs.) 

GARDINER  (to  Elise) 
And  to  continue — 

ELISE 

Oh,  the  King's  Palace.  There  isn't  much 
more  to  tell.  It  was  simply  a  wonderful  place, 
where  everything  happened  exactly  right. 

GARDINER 

As  one  wished?  Or  as  one  thought  one  ought 
to  wish? 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

ELISE   (with  pleased  surprise) 

Both.  For  in  the  King's  Palace  one  always 
wishes  the  things  one  ought. 

GARDINER 
Of  course !    How  stupid  of  me ! 

ELISE 
•     And  the  people  you  love  always  love  you. 

GARDINER 
But  for  that  you  would  not  need  the  palace. 

ELISE 

(smiling  but  a  little  impatient) 

I  am  talking  in  general.  In  the  world  outside 
— oh,  sometimes  I  think  love  doesn't  go  right 
more  than  once  in  a  thousand  times.  You  adore 
one  person  and  that  person  adores  another,  and 
that  one  still  another,  and  so  it  goes.  Perhaps 
it's  because  it's  hard  to  have  very  much  respect, 
still  less  adoration,  for  the  opinion  of  a  person 
who  thinks  too  highly  of  you. 


GARDINER 

u  •  . 

How  wise  we  are ! 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

Why,  Elise,  dear,  what  dreadful  ideas  you 
have! 

ELISE  (to  Gardiner) 
Now  you  are  laughing  at  me. 

GARDINER 
I!     Never! 

ELISE 

(conclusively,  with  a  touch  of  defiance) 
So  every  time  things  didn't  go  right — in  the 
world  outside,  I  mean — I  played  King's  Palace. 

GARDINER 
How  charming! 

ELISE    (seriously) 
Yes,  it  was  very  lovely. 

PHILIP 

(who  has  been  trying  for  some  time  to  get  in 

a  word) 
I  suppose — if  I  am  to  take  the  night  train — 

(He  rises  and  looks  miserably  at  Elise.) 

GARDINER  (to  Mrs.  Raymond) 
And  really,  I  have  imposed  quite  too  long 


16 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

upon  your  patience.  But — the  temptation! 
There  are  some  people  one  dislikes  to  leave, 
even  at  the  risk  of  boring  them. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

Better  and  better!  As  if  I  didn't  know  the 
real  attraction. 

GARDINER 

The  two  attractions.     (To  Elise)    I  have  a 
dance,  then,  tomorrow  night. 
(Elise  nods.)  Good  afternoon.  (Exit  Gardiner) 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

(to  Philip,  who  still  stands  undetermined) 

Don't  go  yet.  You  must  have  time  enough 
before  the  train,  unless  you  have  other  engage 
ments? 

PHILIP 

Well,  perhaps — (He  sits  down.) 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
I  am  sorry  about  tomorrow  night. 

PHILIP 

So  am  I. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

Especially  since  the  labor  of  preparation  will 
deprive  me  of  your  company  now.  (Philip 
starts  to  rise.  She  waves  him  back.)  Oh, 
Elise  will  take  care  of  you,  won't  you? 

ELISE 
Of  course. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

Then  allow  me  to  wish  you  a  pleasant  jour 
ney  and  a  quick  return.  (She  gives  him  her 
hand.  Exit) 

(Elise  wanders  slowly  around  the  table  and 
then  goes  over  to  the  window.) 

ELISE 

The  sunset  is  faded  and  the  golden  gateway 
— is  closed. 

PHILIP 

Elise? 

ELISE 

Yes?  (She  walks  across  the  room  and  stops 
to  fuss  with  the  cups.) 

>HILIP 

1  1  Vk  » 

Elise? 


18 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

ELISE  (with  a  little  impatience) 
Well?  (Suddenly  she  catches  sight  of  his  eyes 
gazing  intently  at  her  and  starts.)  Oh!  (She 
begins  to  talk  rapidly  and  nervously,  fighting 
against  expression  on  his  part.)  Why,  I  am 
very  sorry  you  are  going  west,  Philip,  very 
sorry.  What  business  did  you  say?  But  never 
mind,  I  am  sure  you  wouldn't  go  unless  it  was 
important.  The  west  is  a  lovely  place.  I  should 
like  to  go  west  some  time. 

PHILIP   (interrupting) 
Elise,  did  you  mean  what  you  said  just  now? 

ELISE  (still  rapidly) 

I  suppose  so.  But  I  said  so  many  things. 
Don't  you  think  Mr.  Gardiner  is  an  interesting 
man?  I  think  he's  a  little  bit  like  father.  And 
then  he  understands  everything  so  well,  about 
palaces,  I  mean. 

PHILIP  (doggedly) 

I  mean  what  you  said  about  love,  in  the 
world  outside,  and  its  not  coming  right  but 
once  in  a  thousand  times. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

ELISE  (slowly) 

Well,  I  suppose  that's  true,  usually.  (Again 
she  catches  sight  of  his  face  and  hurries  on.) 
Of  course  I  don't  know  that  it's  mathematically 
correct.  I  was  never  any  good  at  mathematics. 
Perhaps  (seeking  relief  in  flippancy)  ten 
thousand  would  be  nearer.  What  do  you  think? 

PHILIP 

I  hope  not.  Now — now — I  love  you,  Elise. 
(despairingly)  You  love  me,  don't  you? 

ELISE 

Don't,  don't,  Philip.  Oh  dear,  oh  dear,  I'm 
so  sorry. 

PHILIP 

.    <B^3&Sk 
(coming  irresolutely  nearer  after  a  pause) 

Don't  be  sorry,  Elise.  It's  not  your  fault. 

ELISE 

Oh,  Philip,  I  like  you  ever  so  much,  you 
know. 

PHILIP 

I  know.  And  you  have  never — you  have  never 
given  me  any  reason  to — It's  not  your  fault, 


20 


T  HE       KING'S       PALACE 

Elise.  You  have  always  done  everything  you 
should. 

ELISE 
Thank  you,  Philip. 

PHILIP 

But,  you  see,  I  couldn't  help  hoping,  and  I 
can't  help  it  now. 

ELISE 
Don't  hope,  Philip.     It's  no  use.  Never. 

PHILIP 

I  know  I'm  not  nearly  good  enough,  Elise. 
I  always  knew  that. 

ELISE 
Oh,  hush,  you  are  very  good,  Philip. 

PHILIP 

I  know  I  don't  understand  things — about 
palaces.  And  I  can't  talk  the  way  Gardiner 
does.  But,  Elise,  I  really  think  I  feel  the  things 
he  says  as  much  as  he  does.  Perhaps  even 
more.  Now  tonight  when  you  talked  of  the 
gold  and  the  purple -green  and  all  I  could  say 
was  "It's  a  lovely  sunset,"  I  know  you  were 


21 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

disappointed,  Elise.  And  all  the  time  I  thought 
— oh,  what  does  it  matter  what  I  thought? 

'  "  ELISE 

Don't  hope,  Philip.     It's  no  use.     Never. 

PHILIP 
I  would  try  to  play,  you  know  I  would. 

ELISE 
You  would  always  be  obliging,  Philip. 

PHILIP 

Well,  and  shall  I  tell  you  what  I  thought? 
That  you  belonged  in  the  sunset,  and  that  I 
did  not  know  how  to  go  there.  And  meantime 
the  world  was  turning,  turning,  and  would 
shut  the  sunset  out  of  my  sight  so  soon. 

(A  pause.) 

PHILIP 
I  think  I  had  better  go  now. 

ELISE 

I'm — I'm  so  very  sorry  (Then  as  he  still  sits 
there  in  utter  dejection  she  bends  over  him 
with  a  semi-maternal  sympathy.)  If  you  want 


22 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


— would  you  like — just  this  once,  to  kiss 
good-bye  ? 

PHILIP  (seizing  her  hands) 
Oh,   Elise    (she   shrinks   back   involuntaril 
He  looks  at  her  steadily  for  a  moment)  Thank 
you.     No.     Good-bye.     (Exit  quickly.) 

ELISE 

(sinking  into  a  seat  near  the  table 
Oh,  Philip,  Philip,  why  did  you?  You  were  so 
nice  and  I  liked  you  so  much.  (She  fusses  with 
the  coffee  cups  and  looks  into  the  pitcher.) 
The  coffee's  all  gone  and  the  cakes,  too.  There 
isn't  anything  left  but  some  of  Mr.  Gardiner's 
old  ashes.  (She  brushes  them  nervously  to 
the  floor.  Enter  Mr.  Raymond.  Elise  throws 
herself  into  his  arms.)  Dadda! 

MR.  RAYMOND 

(holding  her  off  at  arms'  length  and  looking 
at  her  affectionately) 

Baby,  baby,  you  surprise  me.  I  thought  I 
was  to  have  a  young  lady  daughter  tomorrow 
night? 

ELISE 
But  it  isn't  tomorrow  night  yet. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MR.  RAYMOND 

No,  too  bad,  isn't  it?  Still  another  day  before 
we  are  quite  grown  up. 

ELISE 

Oh,  you  don't  know,  dadda,  you  don't  know 
how  grown  up  I  am.  I  don't  like  it  to  be  grown 
up. 

MR.  RAYMOND 

What's  worrying  the  baby  now?  Can't  it 
get  the  moon? 

ELISE 

Father!  (Mr.  Raymond  looks  at  her  seri 
ously.) 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Oh,  it  isn't  dadda  any  more.  Well,  Elsie? 

ELISE 

Oh,  dadda — (she  stops)  no!  Why,  why — 
I've  a  conundrum  for  you. 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Yes? 

ELISE 

Some  of  the  girls  were  discussing  it  the  other 
day. 


24 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


[D 


MR.  RAYMOND 
Ah,  purely  impersonal  problem? 

ELISE     T 
Of  course. 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Oh! 

ELISE   (gaily) 

Which  would  you  choose,  a  man  who  was 
good  but  not  interesting,  or  a  man  who  was 
interesting  but  not — well,  not  good? 

MR.  RAYMOND 

Impossible  conditions,  my  dear !  A  man  who 
was  good  couldn't  help  being  interesting — as 
a  specimen.  Rare  extinct  genus  and  all  that 
sort  of  thing. 


ELISE 
Don't  be  funny.  I  mean  it. 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Choose?  For  what?  Matrimony? 

ELISE 
Of  course. 

25 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MR.  RAYMOND 

Neither,  my  dear.  I'd  choose  the  lake,  or  a 
pistol,  or  carbolic  acid  at  a  pinch. 

ELISE 

But  if  you  married  a  man  who  was  good 
but  not  interesting,  you  would  want  to  kill 
him  in  a  week,  wouldn't  you,  dadda? 

MR.  RAYMOND 

I!  Far  be  it  from  me,  baby.  And  besides, 
I  wouldn't  marry  a  man. 

ELISE 

\Do  be  sensible.  A  girl  would. 
MR.  RAYMOND 
What?  Marry  him? 

ELISE 
No,  want  to  kill  him. 

MR.  RAYMOND 

But  if  you  married  a  man  who  was  interest 
ing  but  not  good,  he  might  kill  you  instead. 

ELISE  (with  a  mock-virtuous  air) 
I  would  rather  be  killed  than  be  a  murderess. 


26 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MR.  RAYMOND 
That's  because  you  are  good. 

ELISE 
And  not  interesting. 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Oh,  some  people  are  both.  And  when  they 
happen  to  be  pretty  as  well — you  just  wait  till 
tomorrow  night. 

ELISE 

Will  it  be  very  beautiful,  like  a  dream  come 
true? 

MR.  RAYMOND 

No,  like  an  awakening.    I  think — I  hope  you 
will  like  it. 

(Elise  goes  to  the  window  and  looks  out, 
then  turns  suddenly.) 

\w 

ELISE 

Father,  is  it  wicked  of  me  to  feel  so  ex 
cited  and  happy? 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Wicked?  Why? 


27 


I 


THE      KING'S       PALACE 

ELISE   (seriously) 
Because  I  think  it  is. 

MR.  RAYMOND 
What's  the  matter,  Elise? 

ELISE 

Because  just  five  minutes  ago  I  felt  very 
miserable. 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Well? 

ELISE 

And  tonight,  when  I  think  things  over,  I 
am  sure,  (with  determination)  quite  sure, 
that  I  shall  feel  miserable  again.  I  ought  to 
feel  miserable,  but  I  don't.  Only  excited. 

MR.  RAYMOND   (quickly) 
Who's  been  here?  Gardiner? 

ELISE 
And  Philip. 

MR.  RAYMOND 

Oh,  Philip's  not  exciting.  Why,  Elsie,  what's 
the  matter? 

28 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

ELISE 

(dropping  her  head  on  his  shoulder) 
Nothing. 

MR.  RAYMOND  (patting  her  head) 
There,  there,  Elsie.  (He  holds  her  face  away 
from  him  and  looks  at  her  questioningly.  She 
nods.)  Poor  baby.  It  was  too  sudden,  baby. 
I  thought  it  would  come  tomorrow  night — the 
awakening.  (She  releases  herself  slowly.)  So 
you  have  grown  up  (she  nods)  ;  you  have  left 
your  dolls,  (she'  nods)  your  palaces — 

ELISE 
Have  I?  Oh,  must  I? 

MR.  RAYMOND 

Haven't  you,  haven't  you?  Well,  we'll  see 
what  your  mother  can  do  for  it  tomorrow 
night.  We'll  see  if  the  glory  and  glamor  of  a 
ball  are  not  a  fit  substitute  for  palaces. 

ELISE 

And  are  they? 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Ah,  who  knows,  who  knows? 


29 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


MRS.  RAYMOND  (calling  from  without) 
-  Elsie,  Henry,  dinner. 


MR.  RAYMOND  (laughingly) 
That  at  least  is  the  call  of  reality. 

(Exeunt.) 

End  of  Scene  I. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


SCENE    T 

I    r  wV-- -•«Jr*-' S,'* 

/h-h  ;\Vry*m 

(A  large  veranda,  partly  shut  in  by  trees 
and  vines.  Behind  are  windows  through  which 
come  the  light  and  music  of  a  dance.  A  door 
opens  from  the  room  behind  and  Elise  comes 
out,  followed  by  Gardiner.) 


ELISE 

(drawing  a  long  breath  and  holding  out  her 
arms) 

How  good  this  is!  (Gardiner  looks  at  her 
with  a  swift,  scrutinizing  smile.) 

Why  do  you  suppose  they  think  they  are 
having  a  good  time  back  in  there?  Don't  they 
know — this?  (vaguely  indicating  the  night, 
everything  included) 


GARDINER 
Would  you  want  them  to?     If  they  knew, 
we  could  not  have  the  veranda  alone. 


THE      KING'S      PALACE 

ELISE 

Of  course  I  should  want  them  to  be  happy 
— as  happy  as  I  am. 

(From  time  to  time  Gardiner  continues  to 
smile  at  her  with  amused  scrutiny,  but  it  makes 
little  difference,  as  she  seldom  looks  directly 
at  him.) 

GARDINER 

But  as  long  as  they  enjoy  it,  why  not?  It 
was  a  pleasant  party. 

ELISE 

Oh,  it  was  beautiful.  The  lights  and  the 
music  and  the  red  roses.  I  am  so  glad  mother 
wouldn't  let  me  see  it  till  it  was  all  ready. 
And  the  dancing  and  the  people;  it  was  very 
exciting.  I  thought  at  first  I  should  never  have 
enough  of  it. 

GARDINER 

Yet  you  let  me  bring  you  away  for  our 
dance.  Thank  you  for  the  sacrifice. 

ELISE 

Sacrifice,  oh  no!  Do  you  know,  I  thought 
I  enjoyed  it  in  there,  but  as  soon  as  I  stepped 


THE      KING'S       PALACE 

into  the  darkness  I  knew  that  the  whole  even 
ing  had  been  one  long  restlessness  and  that 
this  (She  draws  a  long  breath  and  indicates 
by  a  slight,  swaying  movement  the  night  and 
the  trees.)  was  what  I  wanted. 

GARDINER 
And  shall  I  tell  you  what  else  you  thought? 

ELISE 
Yes. 

GARDINER 

That  this  was  much  more  like — the  King's 
Palace. 

ELISE  (with  a  low  cry  of  joy) 

Oh,  you  know  it,  you  know  it.    How  do  you 
know?  Philip  never  could  guess. 

GARDINER 
Perhaps  he  didn't  care  to  as  much  as  I? 

ELISE  (with  serious  justice) 
Oh,  yes,  he  did.    Philip  was  very  nice.    He 
always  tried. 

GARDINER 
Perhaps  then  it's  because  I've — I've — 


33 


THE      KING'S      PALACE 

ELISE 

You've   been  in  the   King's  Palace.   Oh,  I 
thought  you  had. 

£Jj&     \  f\ 

GARDINER 

Who  knows? 


ELISE 

How  lovely!  Then  you  must  tell  me  all 
about  it.  Was  your  palace  in  a  deep,  deep 
valley  where  the  trees  grew  so  close  'that 
when  you  once  got  in  you  never  could  get  out 
again,  or  was  it  on  the  shore  of  a  wild  sea 
where  the  waves  beat  under  the  palace  walls 
all  night  long? 

GARDINER 

For  me  there  were  many  places  and  many, 
many  palaces,  yet  they  all  belonged  to  the 
same  king. 

I  Sfj  >     1 

ELISE 

Why,  that's  the  loveliest  of  all!  And  where 
was  the  last  one? 

GARDINER 
The  last  one  was  in  a  girl's  eyes. 


34 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


"On  the  shore  of  a  wild  sea  where 
the  waves  beat  under  the  palace  walls 
all  night  long." 


35 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

ELISE  (puzzled) 

Why,  that's  pretty.  But  it  doesn't  seem  like 
the  same  game.  (She  laughs.)  Oh,  now  it's  I 
that  do  not  understand,  and  it  used  to  be 
Philip.  But  never  mind ;  we  shall  manage  beau 
tifully.  For  do  you  know — (She  leans  over  the 
railing  and  takes  a  long  look  at  the  stars,  draws 
a  deep  breath,  and  whispers  laughingly  and 
confidentially.)  we  are  in  the  King's  Palace 
tonight. 

GARDINER 
What  a  beautiful  roof! 

ELISE 
A  roof  of  light  and  darkness! 

GARDINER 
And  where  are  the  walls? 

ELISE 

There  are  no  walls.  There  used  to  be,  but 
they  grew  and  they  grew  and  they  grew  till 
they  took  in  all  the  earth  and  the  sun  and  the 
moon  and  the  stars,  and  now  they're  so  far 
away  that  you  can't  even  think  the  distance. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

GARDINER 

I  think  the  walls  are  very  narrow  and  shut 
us  in  all  by  ourselves,  so  that  the  people  there 
can't  even  see  inside. 

ELISE 

Oh,  but  everyone  could  get  into  the  King's 
Palace,  if  they  only  wanted  to.  The  King's 
Palace  must  be  big. 

GARDINER 

No,  it  is  small,  very  small.  This  palace  is. 

ELISE  (sighing) 

All  right,  if  you  want  it  that  way.  But  next 
time  I'm  going  to  have  it  big. 

GARDINER 

And  may  I  play  king  in  the  palace? 

ELISE  (doubtfully) 
Why — why — nobody  was  ever  king! 

GARDINER 
So  you  were  a  maiden  queen,  the  only  ruler. 

ELISE   (surprised) 
Why,  no,  I  wasn't  queen,  I  just  went  there. 


37 


THE      KING'S       PALACE 

There  was  no  king — that  is,  no  king  you  could 
ever  see.  There  was  only — the  King's  Palace. 

GARDINER 

Ah,  but  you  must  have  a  king,  you  know. 
I'll  play  king. 

ELISE  (troubled) 

Very  well.  But  it  doesn't  seem  quite  right 
to  have  any  one  be  king.  It  will  have  to  be 
another  game  altogether. 

GARDINER 
Isn't  it  a  nice  game? 


I  think  it  will  be.    We'll  try. 

GARDINER  (slowly) 

Then  I'll  be  king,  and  I  have  many  palaces. 
But  this  is  the  most  beautiful  of  all.  For  in  it 
lives  a  maiden  with  deep,  deep  eyes  and 
lovely  hair  and  a  wonderful  smile.  And  she  is 
the  queen  of  the  palace  and  of  all  the  palaces 
if  she  will.  And  every  evening  we  wander  to 
gether  over  the  dark  earth  and  under  the  dark 
trees,  till  we  come  to  an  open  space  by  a  little 


THE      KING'S      PALACE 

lake,  where  the  long  thick  grass  grows  down 
to  the  water's  edge.    (A  pause.) 

ELISE    (with   a   satisfied   sigh) 
That's  lovely! 

GARDINER  (slowly  and  significantly) 
And  we  sit  down  on  the  grass  by  the  lake. 
And  at  first  we  talk,  and  then  for  a  while  the 
night  birds  sing  and  the  crickets  chirp  an 
then  there  is — silence.  (A  pause.  Elise 
a  deep  breath.  Gardiner  goes  on  more  rapid 
ly.  )  For  my  queen  knows,  as  I  know,  too,  that 
there  is  but  one  thing  worth  while  in  life,  but 
one  use  for  the  King's  Palace,  and  that  is— 
this!  (He  embraces  her  passionately,  kissin 
her  on  the  mouth.) 

ELISE   (struggling) 
No — oh — no. 

GARDINER  (kissing  her  face  and  throat) 
And  this — and  this — 

(Elise  succeeds  in  freeing  herself  and  leans 
weakly  against  a  pillar  for  support.) 


39 


THE      KING'S      PALACE 

ELISE   (angrily  and  miserably) 
No — oh,  no. 

GARDINER 
Elise,  I  am  mad.  Elise,  Elise,  I  adore  you! 

ELISE  (gasping) 

I  must  go  in — I  must  go  in  (She  starts  to  the 
door.) 

GARDINER 
Elise,  listen,  hear  me. 

ELISE 

I  must  go  in,  I  must — Oh,  I  can't  go  in,  not 
yet.  (She  leans  against  the  house  near  the 
door.) 

GARDINER    (approaching) 
Elise. 

ELISE 
Don't  touch  me! 

GARDINER   (appealing) 
Elise ! 

ELISE 

I'll  listen,  I'll  listen.  Only  don't  come  any 
nearer. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

GARDINER 

But  don't  you  see,  Elise,  don't  you  see?  This 
is  really  the  end,  the  height,  the  climax  of  all 
those  dreams,  those  dreams  of  the  King's  Pal 
ace. 

ELISE 

Oh,  you  have  spoiled  it.  It  was  never  that 
way  at  all. 

GARDINER 

You  did  not  know?  I  thought  you  knew,  but 
I  believe  now  that  you  didn't.  But  whether 
you  knew  or  not,  it  is  true. 

ELISE  (still  dazed) 
What  is  true? 

GARDINER 

That  there  is  but  one  thing  worth  while  in 
life,  but  one  use  for  the  King's  Palace. 

ELISE 
No,  oh  no.      There  were  others. 

GARDINER 

Elise,  listen.  Your  dreams,  your  King's 
Palace, — that  is  play.  This  is  real.  And  this 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

is  the  fulfilment  of  the  dream.  It  is  what  you 
want  without  knowing  that  you  want  it.  Ro 
mance — did  you  not  dream  of  it  in  the  palace? 
Why  else  the  lonely  valley  and  the  wild  sea? 
What  is  all  your  dreaming  but  a  longing  for 
romance?  And  did  you  never,  in  the  very 
midst  of  the  dream,  in  the  very  heart  of  the 
palace,  did  you  never  feel  a  sudden  restlessness, 
a  sudden  dissatisfaction,  a  sudden  craving  for 
the  touch  of  the  real?  Did  you  never  ques- 


ELISE   (unwillingly) 


GARDINER 
And  this  is  the  answer.  This  is  the  romance 
which  is  also  real.  This  is  what  you  have 
dreamed  and  more.  Do  not  hold  back  from 
the  completion  of  the  vision.  Give  yourself 
up  to  it — entirely,  gloriously.  Come  now,  it 
is  reasonable,  is  it  not?  You  have  dreamed; 
accept  the  answer.  (He  comes  nearer.) 

ELISE 

Don't  touch  me! — I  wish  I  knew;  I  wish  I 
knew. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

GARDINER 
I_  know.  Take  my  word  for  it.  I  have  lived 
somewhat  longer  than  you  and  I  have  known 
life.  And  I  bring  you  word  that  the  one  thing 
worth  while  in  it  is  romance, — romance  of 
dream,  romance  of  adventure,  romance  of  mad 
ness,  romance  of  love.  (He  comes  slowly 
nearer.) 


ELISE  (gasping  for  breath) 

Don't.     Oh,  I  wish  I  knew!     I  wonder — 

(As  he  is  about  to  reach  her  and  is  standing 

in  front  of  the  door  to  the  room,  it  opens  and 

Mrs.   Raymond   appears   in  a  blaze  of  light. 

Elise  and  Gardiner  start  back.) 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

Where  have  you  been,  Elise?      They  have 

been  asking  for  you.     You  missed  two  dances. 

GARDINER  (recovering  himself) 
How  the  light  startled  us !  We  were  just  at 
the  door  on  our  way  in.  I  am  sorry  to  have 
detained  Miss  Raymond.  The  night  was  so 
beautiful  and  we  have  been  discussing  the 
King's  Palace. 


43 


THE      KING'S      PALACE 


MRS.  RAYMOND 

So  you  are  going  to  humor  that  pretense 
too? 

GARDINER 

It  is  a  beautiful  pretense.  (To  Elise,  as  she 
enters.)  And  consider  my  views,  Miss  Ray 
mond,  on  the  King's  Palace.  They  are  the  true 
ones. 

ELISE  (in  a  choked  voice) 
I  shall  have  to  consider  them.     (Exit  with 
Mrs.  Raymond.) 

GARDINER 

So?  (He  looks  at  the  sky,  whistles  a  low 
tune  and  goes  into  the  room.) 

End  of  Scene  Two. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


SCENE     THREE 

(Mrs.  Raymond's  sitting  room,  after  the 
dance.  Mrs.  Raymond  busy  looking  over 
some  of  the  details  that  need  clearing  up  be 
fore  retiring.  Enter  Elise.  She  lays  her  hand 
wearily  on  her  mother's  shoulder.) 

ELISE 
I  am  so  tired,  mother,  so  tired. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

Yes,  it  is  later  than  you  are  used  to.  You 
must  go  to  bed. 

ELISE 
But,  mother,  it  is  not  that  kind  of  tired. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
There  is  only  one  kind  of  tired,  my  dear. 

ELISE  (making  a  movement  of  protest) 
No— 


45 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
You  will  be  all  right  in  the  morning.    Come. 

ELISE 
on't  want  to  be  alone  just  now.     Please. 

Just  for  a  little  while. 

;|  I      I 

MRS.  RAYMOND  (impatiently) 


What  do  you  want? 
jt 

ELISE 

Please  be  good,  mother.  Now  sit  here.  ( She 
puts  a  cushion  on  a  low  chair,  makes  her 
mother  sit  down,  then  throws  herself  on  the 
floor  with  her  head  against  her  mother's  knees. 
She  takes  her  mother's  hands  and  places  them 
on  her  forehead.)  Now  dear,  you  can  do 
whatever  you  want,  but  don't  speak  to  me,  for 
I'm  going  to  pretend. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

What  are  you  going  to  pretend? 

\~  111 

ELISE 

fcat  you  are  my  mother.  My  really,  truly 
mother,  the  mother  I  had — in  the  King's  Pal 
ace. 


46 


THE       KING'S       PALAC  E 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

That  game!  But  you  are  too  old  for  that 
now. 

ELISE 
Let  me.    Just  for  a  little  while. 

(A  pause.  Mrs.  Raymond  looks  uneasily 
toward  the  other  rooms  of  the  house.) 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
I  am  needed.     I'll  be  back  sooft.     (Exit.) 

ELISE 

(After  a  pause,  raising  her  head  drearily.) 

I  wonder  if  the  chair  would  do.  (She  pulls 
the  cushion  to  the  chair  edge,  and  leans  her 
cheek  against  it  After  a  moment  she  raises 
herself  and  begins  to  speak  dreamily,  straight 
in  front  of  her,  growing  more  and  more  ani 
mated.)  Oh,  mother  dear,  oh  mother  dear, 
is  it  true,  is  it  true?  Be  good  to  me,  mother 
dear.  I  don't  know — I  don't  know  anything  at 
all.  If  you  would  only  tell  me  so  that  I  could 
be  sure.  (She  drops  back,  then  rises  suddenly.) 
Oh,  where  are  you?  where  are  you?  it  is  all  so 


47 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

far  away  tonight.    Oh,  you  have  left  me  alone. 
You  don't  care.    (She  rises,  saying  slowly:) 

"Oh,  one  to  the  King's  high  throne  might  win, 
Worthily  rule  in  the  palace  halls, 

But  never  dream  that  he  dwelt  therein. 
And  one  would  play  with  the  coronals, 

Count  them  all  in  a  night  and  a  day — 
Heigho,  heigho,  and  away,  away." 

The  first  is  true,  so  true.  I  wonder  about  the 
second.  The  second — oh!  (She  stops  with  a 
long  shudder  of  recollection,  throws  herself 
into  a  chair  by  the  table  and  hides  her  face. 
At  last  she  rises,  goes  wearily  to  the  window, 
and  looks  out.)  «% 

*v»^t-  3 

Orion,  and  Sirius,  and — oh,  there  are  the 
Pleiades!  And  what  a  dear  little  cloud!  (A 
pause,  then  passionately.)  You,  you  beautiful, 
you  wonderful,  you!  (Slowly  and  passionately 
she  throws  a  kiss  out  of  the  window.)  I  love 
you,  you.  (She  drops  into  a  low  chair  beside 
the  window,  still  gazing  out.  At  last  she  lays 
her  arm  on  the  sill  and  drops  her  head  on  her 
arm.  A  long  pause.  Enter  Mr.  Raymond.) 


48 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 


"Orion    and    Sirius,    and — oh,    there 
are  the  Pleiades!" 


49 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MR.  RAYMOND 

WeD,  baby!  (Ehse  starts  and  rises,)  Sleepy? 
Did  you  have  a  £ood  time? 

ELISE 

(glancing  at  the  chair  by  the  window) 
I  have  had  —  a  beautiful  time. 

MR.  RAYMOND  (teasmgly) 
I  saw  yon  go  oat  on  die  porch  with  Gardiner. 


Yes? 

MR,  RAYMOND 
Wen? 

ELISE 
It  was  a  beautiful  night. 

JIR.  RAYMOND 

And  Gardiner  knows  how  to  make  the  most 
of  a  beautiful  night,  eh  ? 

EL1SE  (shrinking.) 
Don't,  father. 

MR.  RAYMOND 

(Kissing  her  forehead  suddenly.) 
Forgive  me,  dear.     But  you  like  him? 


THE      KING'S       PALACE 


NO.  W  r§  /O 

v 


MR.  RAYMOND 


Oh!     (A  pause.) 


ELISE 

Father,  he's  the  most  fascinating  man  I  ever 
met. 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Ah,  so? 

ELISE 

But   I   don't  like  him.     He — he  spoils  my 
world. 

MR.  RAYMOND 

Elise,  dear,  I  think  I  am  rather  glad.    You 
prefer  Philip,  then? 


KB 

ELISE 

Father,  if  I  had  to  be  married  tomorrow, 
I'd  take  Philip.     But— 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Well? 

ELISE  (gaily)'' 
I  don't  have  to  be  married  tomorrow. 


THE       KING'S       PALACE 

MR.  RAYMOND 

But  sometime? 

ELISE 
No,  never. 

MR.  RAYMOND  (lightly) 
He's  an  estimable  young  man. 

ELISE 

Father,  he  is  good.  He  is  very,  very  good. 
He  is  kind,  and  generous,  and  he  has  rever 
ence.  Oh,  I  almost  think  that  the  one  thing 
needful,  the  one  thing  that  is  best,  is  reverence. 
For  yourself,  you  know,  and  for  other  people, 
and  for  everything  you  hold  beautiful  and 
good,  yes,  and  for  everything  anyone  holds 
beautiful  and  good, — because  it  is  sacred  to 
someone.  But,  but — (She  hums  lightly.) 

"Oh,  one  to  the  king's  high  throne  might  win, 

Worthily  rule  in  the  palace  halls, 
And  never  dream  that  he  dwelt  therein." 

He  would  never  know,  father. 

MR.  RAYMOND 
About  what? 


THE      KING'S      PALACE 

ELISE 
Oh,  about  everything. 

MR.  RAYMOND 

I  see.  He  has  reverence  without  understand 
ing,  while  Gardiner  understands  (Elise  nods.) 
and  does  not  reverence. 

ELISE 

Does  one  understand,  really,  truly,  without 
reverence? 

MR.  RAYMOND 

Some  people  would  say  one  doesn't  under 
stand  with  it.  There,  there,  baby,  I  didn't 
mean  it  that  way.  I  think,  I  rather  think  you 
may  be  right.  And  yet  Gardiner  spoils  Philip 
for  you  (Elsie  starts  and  acquiesces.)  even  as 
Philip  spoils  Gardiner.  And  neither  of  them 
would  do  for  the  King's  Palace. 

ELISE 

Father! 

MR.  RAYMOND 

Oh,  baby,  baby,  do  you  think  I've  never 
been  there — in  the  King's  Palace? 

53 


T  HE      KING'S      PALACE 

ELISE 

I  didn't  know.  I  always  thought — Have 
you? 

MR.  RAYMOND 

We  are  most  of  us  there  some  time.  Most 
of  us,  not  all. 

ELISE 
And  isn't  it  beautiful? 

MR.  RAYMOND 
It  was  heaven. 

ELISE 
)h»  why  did  you  ever  come  away? 

MR.  RAYMOND 
Once  upon  a  time — once    upon    a    time, — 
when  the  prince  had  wandered  a  long  way 
from  the  palace,  he  met  a  beautiful  maiden. 

ELISE  (breathlessly) 
Yes,  mother — go  on. 

MR.  RAYMOND 

And  she  would  not  believe  what  he  told  her 
about  the  palace  and  she  didn't  much  care  for 
palaces  anyway,  and  so— 


54 


MR.  RAYMOND  (lightly) 
And  so  he  never  wanted  to  come  back  to 
the  palace  again. 

ELISE  (incredulously) 
He  never  wanted  to? 

MR.  RAYMOND 
At  any  rate  he  never  came.  (A  pause.) 

MR.  RAYMOND 

i^S 

Well,  are  you  going  to  come  out  of 
ace,  Elise? 

ELISE 
Is  it  nicer  outside? 

MR.  RAYMOND 

Of  course — that  is,  it's  much  more  comfort 
able.  At  least — oh,  at  any  rate  one  succeeds 
better.  Your  mother  now,  she's  a  success. 
And  I — well,  I  don't  suppose  most  people  think 
I  am.  The  little  time  I  lived  in  the  palace — 
it  spoiled  me  for  other  things. 


55 


THE      KING'S      PALACE 

ELISE 

But  that  was  because  you  left.  Suppose  you 
had  stayed? 

MR.  RAYMOND 

I  don't  know,  dear.  But  I  should  have 
needed  — 

ELISE 
What? 

MR.  RAYMOND 
A  different  world. 

~*rS^W-«^^fc  -St.^>\Jit 

ELISE 

Oh,  but  the  world  js  different  in  the  King's 
Palace. 

MR.  RAYMOND  (wearily) 
Is  it,  dear?    I  had  almost  forgotten. 

ELISE 

You  worry  me  a  little.  I  wish  I  knew.  (She 
moves  irresolutely  to  the  window.)  Oh,  the 
stars  know  everything. 

MR.  RAYMOND 

In  the  King's  Palace.  (Enter  Mrs.  Ray 
mond.) 


THE      KING'S       PALACE 

MRS.  RAYMOND  (without  seeing  Elise) 

Well,  it's  over.  Went  off  rather  well,  don't 
you  think? 

MR.  RAYMOND 
A  most  unusual  evening. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

What  do  you  suppose  Gardiner  means?  I 
must  speak  to — (Mr.  Raymond  indicates 
Elise  with  a  warning  glance.)  Elise!  You 
here!  I  thought  you  had  gone  to  bed. 

(Elise  comes  forward  with  a  light  step.) 

ELISE 
I  am  going,  mother. 

MR.  RAYMOND 

And  Elise, — Mr.  Gardiner,  you  know — it's 
all  right  this  time,  but  you  really  shouldn't 
again — at  the  beginning  of  your  season,  too. 

ELISE 

I  do  not  think  I  care  to  see  Mr.  Gardiner 
again. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
Oh,  I  do  not  mean  it  that  way.    Just  be — 


57 


well,  there  are  plenty  of  other  people,  you 
know.  Don't  let  him  monopolize  you.  Not 
but  what  he's  an  interesting  young  man. 

ELISE 

I  do  not  think  I  care  to  see  Mr.  Gardiner 
again. 

LJoBB^ 

MRS.  RAYMOND 

What's  got  into  you  now?     Is  it  Philip? 

V  _  ELISE 

No,  mother. 

MRS.  RAYMOND 
What  do  you  expect  to  do  then? 

ELISE 

I  am  going  back  (with  a  radiant  glance  at 
her  fajtlajer)  to  the  King's  Palace. 

MRS.  RAYMOND  (contemptuously) 
The  King's  Palace?     Oh,  you  mean  your 
dolls. 

ELISE  (stops,  struck  by  the  word) 
Dolls,  do  I?    (She  lets  her  hands  fall  with  a 
despairing  gesture.)    Oh,  I  don't  know.    But  I 


THE      KING'S      PALACE 


am  going,  I  am  going,  whether  I  know  or  not. 

(Exit.  As  she  passes  the  window  she  sways 
toward  it  lightly,  draws  a  deep  breath,  looking 
up  at  the  stars,  smiles,  and  goes  out.) 

THE  END. 


59 


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